Improvement in folding chairs



J. J'.;WELLER.

I FOLDING-CHAIR. NO.

Patented March 13, 1877.

legs moves;

U ITED JACOB J. WELLER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING CHAIRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 88,324, dated March 13,1877 application filed October 23, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, J A0013 J OSEPHWELLER, of Bufl'alo, in the county ofErie and State of New York, (assignor to the firm of WELLER, BROWN &MESMER, of same place,) have made certain Improvements in FoldingUhairs, of which the following is a specification This invention is forthe purpose of strengthening the construction of folding chairs, and toinsure the raising up of the back legs when the seat is folded, andlowering them when opened; and the invention consists in providing astrap-loop attached to the under side of the seat, and in whichthe topbar of the back also in providing a back bar to support the back legswhen in use, as hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the chair folded, showingthe loop, 8m. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.

A represents the seat, hinged or pivoted to the back pieces B B, whichalso form, by forward curved continuations act, the front legs, as shownin the drawings. b b are the back legs, also curved forward in theirconstruction, and each pivoted at c c to the legs a a. A bar, 1, unitesthe tops of these legs, and keeps them firm, and when expanded, a backbar or brace, e, which is fastened to the back of the front legs a a, asshown, supports the back legs by their resting against the bar, so

as to take 0E, almost entirely, the strain on the pivot-pins c c. Thisis important, as in most folding chairs in which the legs are pivotedtogether, the pins break, the bearings wear loose, and the chair soonbecomes shackly.

The usual stops f f to receive the head of the back legs b b areattached to the bottom of the seat in front, as shown in Fig. 1. i

In chairs of a folding nature or style these back (and sometimes thefront) legs have to be lifted by hand, as well as the seat, and when theseat is lifted these legs will usually drop down, and have to beseparately raised. To avoid this, and make the raising and loweringautomatic with the folding-up of the chair-seat, 1 provide a guide strapor loop, 0, (preferably of metal,) which incloses the bar 01, and whoseends g g are fastened to the bottom of the seat, one front and the otherback, at or near the center. This metal guide-loop bulges outsufficiently to allow a free movement of the bar d, so that when theseat is lifted it slides this bar at in the strap, and, consequently,carries the bar (and legs) with it, thus insuring their folding up withthe chair, and when the chair is unfolded the ban d is guided by thestrap 0 exactly into place the strap also acting as an additional centerstop.

I claim- In a folding chair, the guide-loop 0 am back stop a, incombination with the seat A bar (1, and legs a. 11, substantially as andfo the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signe my name in the presence of twosubscribin witnesses.

J. J. WELLER.

Witnesses J. R. DRAKE, 1. H. PARSONS.

